I’ve been giving Mel Lawrenz’s most recent Everything New devotional some thought this week. In “Putting the Pieces Back Together,” Mel provides a powerful description of the order with which God originally imbued Creation—and the subsequent loss it suffered as a result of the Fall.

Eden was a place of perfect harmony. But as soon as we—in the persons of Adam and Eve—took our lives into our own hands, that harmony was disrupted and we were plunged into a new reality of brokenness:

Life would be easier, wouldn’t it, if all its pieces held together. If they always made sense. If nothing ever broke off. If no part were ever lost, or twisted, or detached….

Imagine life in Paradise. Eden was the wonderful opening chord of life, complete harmony with nothing in excess, nothing missing, nothing broken. But when that break did happen (and what an awful shattering sound it made), when human beings said, “we think we can do this on our own,” all creation shuddered and cracks spread throughout.

Our only hope from then on was that someone, somewhere would help us put the pieces back together.

When the Bible says that “in him [that is, Christ], all things hold together,” it is describing the fundamental structure of all reality. “All things” means all things. Go down to the level of the molecule, then the individual atom, and science will tell you that it is a mystery how atoms and their particles hold together. But they do. How is it that you put into your mouth meat and potatoes and vegetables, and they are broken apart, but you yourself don’t break apart? Your body keeps reorganizing itself, growing, healing. The biological pieces keep coming together, with some interruptions for illness, until that last breath moves out across your lips and the spirit departs. Only then does your body return to dust….

Our only hope of surviving in a broken, disconnected, fractured world is the fact that God created everything according to a grand pattern. The very meaning of the word “creation” is taking pieces and making a whole. Heaven and earth do fit together, even though it oftentimes seems as if they are two different universes. God created the visible and the invisible as one reality, though now we so often choose to live merely as bodies without souls. Why, at creation, did it all hold together? Why are there patterns to the pieces? It is because “all things were created by him and for him.”

We owe what little order we have in our lives to God and His original plan. Jesus Christ works to restore that order—to bring us back into harmony with God’s plan. It’s not always easy to discern anything resembling a divine plan in the often messy reality of our everyday existence… but take time this weekend to look for signs of God’s plan in your life. God can bring His order into even the most chaotic of places.

Facebook

Don't forget! For the month of August, the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible is part of the Bible Gateway Plus digital study library! Start your free 30-day trial to explore this acclaimed study Bible along with dozens of other Bible commentaries, dictionaries, and more: fal.cn/t.Fw...

Do you know what the Bible says about the sun, moon, and stars? Test your Bible trivia while you wait for the August 21 eclipse by taking our newest Bible trivia quiz! Click here to take the quiz: fal.cn/t.BD...

Sheri Rose Shepherd, author of the popular "His Princess" books and devotionals, shares an inspiring message about embracing God's will amidst life's challenges. Watch the video below, then visit www.HisPrincess.com to keep up with Sheri Rose's ministry! ...

Precious friends
I am so honored that 17,000 of you joined me on FACEBOOK LIVE from the conference and now over 44,000 have heard this message!
It's hard to believe that 2 days before the conference broadcast I was so weak & sick I honestly thought I was going home to be with the Lord.
Because of your prayers, I was able to stand on that stage and share what God gave me for you!
In that moment I've never felt better in my life or enjoyed ministering more than ever before!
This week I am exhilarated and exhausted and in need of some prayer covering this week that's for sure. As you know the attack always comes after a great work of God is done. If you could cover my health & healing again this week it would be amazing
Be sure and visit our new
HisPrincess.com to enter your email to receive a private invitation to my personal online Bible Study
FRESH OUT OF THE FIRE
"7 Encounters with the King"
LAUNCHING JANUARY 2018
Love you all and truly asking God to heal me completely so I can go out and minister freely once again
Sheri Rose